Ronaldo

For 6 years striker after striker has been hailed as the new Didier Drogba.

Worth a quid, just in case there's an intricate betting scam in place for the worst striker in the competition to score 6 against Iran.

West Ham and QPR will offer £150K.

You tell me, you'll be paying to watch him play.

I like Rich. Not so fond of moaning like a 16-year-old girl about our best players getting sold like it's something that started last week. Been going on close to 4 years.

That's better.

Going down because we're missing our best RB? No, no, no, no, no.

Theakston was a horribly shit keeper 4 years back, why does he get invited back?

Never made it onto the pitch, mind.

It's just embarrassingly small time, mate.

Ah right, sarcasm to highlight the fact that Colback isn't as good as Cabaye. We all badly needed reminding, no doubt.

Clearly, but what point are you trying to make?

First one was, SBR was manager wasn't he? Don't remember that, like. Though it must have been almost 10 years back.

What's this actually a reference to?

What I don't get is why there's been zero movement against the manger by the players as a unit or individually. This is the problem with having no leadership in the side and exactly why Colo was made captain.

Yeah he said it before then, too.

Said it at the time, too. Never had the brain to fulfil the potential pinned on him.

Then he says he'd play Lampard and Gerrard in the middle. I wouldn't do it, but there's a decent case for that provided there's young legs around them. Gerrard is the best passer in the squad and Lampard is arguably the most natural goalscorer in the squad. Personally I'd keep Frank on the bench till the last 20.

It's just such a totally different game against Italy. I think we should reserve our judgements.

He's an astute football man, Hoddle. Amazes me that some wouldn't have him as our manager.

That excuse might work for a team like Italy, who step it up when it matters. We don't step it up, and this is very likely how we'll play over the coming couple of weeks. Throughout the 3 friendlies it's been blatantly obvious that the players haven't been pushing themselves at all. I don't really blame them. The best 11 is a mix of players who either know they'll start or know this WC is their last real chance to shine as international players. Should be no reflection of how they'll play when it matters.

Given that City will most likely finish on something like 90 points or more, there's no way any other side will 'walk' the league.

Yep.

Like when we qualified for the WC because of him you mean?